Case insert for the storage and carrying of hair falls



Aug. 13, 1968 w. BLOOM ET AL 3,396,832

CASE INSERT FOR THE STORAGE AND CARRYING OF HAIR FALLS Filed Oct. 2, 1967 /ig llllmgg f r I w "MIN? n/ l0 y A ywji /3 f 'l7d Z9 27 J 2 l, 2 1a? 7 Wig;

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F I INVENTORS WILLIAM BLOOM ERNEST M. KELLY ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,396,832 CASE INSERT FOR THE STORAGE AND CARRYING OF HAIR FALLS William Bloom, Clilfside Park, N.J., and Ernest M. Kelly, Jamaica, N.Y., assignors to Miner industries Inc, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 2, 1967, Ser. No. 672,175 8 Claims. (Cl. 206-8) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A platform or case 'insert for carrying a hair fall has a base on which it may be disposed in an erect position either within or outside of a carrying case, a panel of foamed polystyrene or the like extending upwardly a substantial distance above the base and to which an end of ahair fall can be pinned, and a guide wall including an upwardly convex arcuate section extending from the upper edge of the panel to a depending flat section in parallel spaced relation to the panel so that the hair fall pinned at one end to the panel can be draped over the guide wall to occupy a vertical space much smaller than the length of the hair fall without disturbing the set thereof or permitting entangling of its hairs.

This invention relates generally to the storage and carrying of hair pieces of the type known as falls.

A fall is a hair piece of natural or synthetic hair which is of considerable length and used to supplement or add to a womans own hair in a coiffure requiring either more hair or longer hair than that 'with which the woman is naturally endowed. Such hair falls are frequently set and, when removed from the wearers head for storage or carrying, it is necessary that sharp folding or creasing of the fall be avoided to prevent disturbance of the set and entangling of the hair. Thus, previously existing cases for the storage and carrying of falls have had a height at least as great as the longest fall to be contained therein and have been provided with a head block at the top of the case from which the fall can be suspended for its full length. However, such existing cases are cumbersome and inconvenient to carry and occupy a relatively large storage space by reason of their excessive height.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide for the storage or carrying of a hair fall in such a way that the same will occupy a relatively small space particularly in the vertical direction, without disturbing the setting of the fall or untangling the hairs thereof.

Another object is to provide a platform or case insert of relatively small vertical dimensions on which hair falls of varying lengths can be stored or carried either within or outside of a similarly dimensioned case, and which prevents disturbance of the setting of the fall or entangling of its hairs.

A further object is to provide a platform or case insert of the described character which is conveniently insertable in and removable from a carrying case, and which is relatively simple and inexpensive to produce.

In accordance with an aspect of this invention, a platform or case insert is com-prised of a support structure having a base on which it is disposable in an erect position, a panel of penetrable material, such as foamed polystyrene or the like, extending a substantial distance upwardly from the base and adapted to have an end of a hair fall pinned thereto, and a guide wall including an upwardly convex arcuate section of substantially large curvature extending from the upper edge of the panel to a depending flat section of the guide wall in spaced, substantially parallel relation to the panel so that the hair fall pinned at one end to the panel can be draped over ICC the guide wall to retain its set and avoid entangling of its hairs while occupying a vertical space which is smaller than the length of the fall.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the invention, will be apparent in the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment thereof which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a platform in accordance with this invention for carrying a hair fall, and which is shown inserted in an open case;

FIG. 2 is an end view, on an enlarged scale, of the platform; and

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken in a plane between the end walls of the platform.

Referring to the drawing in detail, and initially to FIG. 1 thereof, a platform 10 for carrying a hair fall 11 in accordance with this invention is there shown inserted in an open case 12. The platform 10 includes a support structure made up of end walls 13 which are erect in the normal position of use and disposed in parallel, spaced relation. The bottom edges of walls 13 are straight, at least at the central portions thereof, so as to constitute a base on which platform 10 can stand erect either within case 12, as shown on FIG. 1, or outside the case on a horizontal supporting surface. Such base, in the embodiment shown, is further constituted by a bottom wall 14 extending between the bottom edges of end walls 13 and secured to the latter, as by rivets 15 (FIGS. 2 and 3) or other fastening means joining upwardly folded tabs 16 at the ends of wall 14 to the lower portions of wall 13. Extending between end walls 13 is a rectangular panel 17 (FIG. 3) of a penetrable material, such as, polystyrene foam or the like, to which an end of the hair fall can be pinned or otherwise similarly secured. The panel 17 is arranged to extend vertically when end walls 13 are erect, as shown, with the outer or front face 17a of the panel being set back from the adjacent front edges 13a of the end walls. The panel 17 is laterally dimensioned so as to be coextensive with the distance between end walls 13 and is of substantial height so that the end 11a of the fall may be pinned thereto at locations within a relatively large vertical range.

A guide wall 18 also extends between end walls 13 and includes an upwardly convex arcuate section 19 (FIGS. 1 and 3) having a substantial radius of curvature, for example, at least two inches, which extends from the upper edge of panel 17 to a depending flat section 20 of the guide wall disposed in substantially parallel, spaced relation to panel 17 and being set back from the adjacent back edges 13b of the end walls. As shown, the arched or arcuate section 19 of the guide wall is spaced downwardly from the upper edges of end walls 13. The guide wall 18 may further include, as an integral part thereof, a flat backing section 21 (FIG. 3) to which panel 17 is secured, as by cementing of the back surface of the panel thereto. Backing section 21 may be joined to arcuate section 19 in offset relation thereto, as by a rearwardly bent section 22 lying against the upper edge surface of panel 17, and the lower end of backing section 21 may terminate in a forwardly directed flange section 23 which underlies the lower edge surface of the panel.

End walls 13, bottom wall 14 and guide wall 18 may all be conveniently and economically formed of a suitably stiff cardboard covered with a vinyl or other plastic fabric. The mounting of guide wall 18, and hence of panel 17 secured thereto, between end walls 13 is preferably elfected by forming guide wall 18 with tabs 24, 25, 26 and 27 (FIG. 2) projecting from the opposite ends thereof at sections 20, 19, 22 and 23, respectively, to extend through suitably located slots 28 in the end walls, which tabs are secured to the end walls 13, as by rivets 29. Further, as shown on FIG. 3, guide wall 18 may he formed with flaps 30 and 31 at the opposite ends of sections 20 and 21 thereof, which flaps 3t} and 31 are folded toward each other to lie against the inner surfaces of end walls 13. It will be understood that guide wall 18 may be formed in flat condition, and thereafter folded and bent, as shown on FIG. 3, so as to be held in such folded and bent condition by its described attachment to end walls 13.

In using the above described pltform for storing or carrying a hair fall 11, the end 11a of the fall which would be attached to the wearers head When in use is pinned to panel 17, and the remainder of the fall is draped over arch or arcuate section 19 of the guide wall and depends loosely from such arch in back of flat section 20. The vertical location on panel 17 at which end 11a of the fall is pinned thereto is selected on the basis of the length of the fall. Thus, in the case of a relatively short fall, the end 11a thereof is pinned to panel 17 adjacent the upper edge of the latter to ensure that the weight of the hair depending from arch or arcuate section 19 in back of section 20 is greater than the weight of hair depending from the arch in front of panel 17. In the case of a long fall, the end 1111 thereof is pinned to panel 17 adjacent the lower edge of the latter to ensure the the other or free end 11b of the fall does not reach below the base or bottom wall 14. In either case, the substantial radius of curvature of arcuate section 19 over which the fall is draped ensures that the setting of the fall will not be disturbed. Further, the spacing apait of panel 17 and flat section 20 ensures that the portions of the fall lying thereagainst will not become entangled. It will also be apparent that the draping of the fall over arch or arcuate section 19 of the platform 10 makes it possible to accommodate a fall thereon having a length that is almost twice as large as the height of platform 10.

The described platform 10 may be employed, as is, for the storage of a fall, for example, on a closet shelf or the like, or such platform may be inserted in the case 12 for carrying or storing the fall therein. As shown on FIG. 1, case 12 is formed with a body 32 and lid 33 hinged or pivoted to each other so as to be relatively swingable between the illustrated open position and a closed position where platform 10 is enclosed thereby. The body 32 and lid 33 are internally dimensioned so that, when in their closed position, the outer surfaces and edges of end walls 13 are closely confined in case 10 to prevent relative movement of platform It} within the case. Since panel 17 and section 26* are set back from edges 13a and 13b of the end walls and arch 19 is spaced downwardly from the upper edges of end walls 13, the fall 11 mounted on platform 10 lies in the resulting space defined between guide wall 18 and panel 17 of the platform and the inner surface of case 10 without being crushed by the latter.

As shown on FIG. 1, body 32 and lid 33 of case 12 are preferably separable at a vertical plane perpendicular to the planes of end wall-s 13 of the platform so that, when case 12 is in its open condition, the insertion and removal of platform 10 can be easily accomplished. The case 12 is further provided with a handle 34 at the portion thereof which is uppermost when the platform 10 in the case is erect. The case 12 also has the usual coopera- 4 tive latch elements 35a and 35b on its body and lid, respectively, for securing the case in its closed condition.

Although an illustrative embodiment of the invention has been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawing, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiment and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A platform for carrying a hair fall comprising a support structure having a base and being disposable thereon in an erect position, a panel of penetrable material mounted with respect to said support structure so as to extend upwardly a substantial distance above said base in said erect position and being adapted to have an end of a hair fall pinned thereto, and a guide wall carried by said support structure and including an upwardly convex arcuate section of substantial curvature extending from an upper edge of said panel to a flat section of the guide wall which depends from said arcuate section in substantially parallel, spaced relation to said panel so that a hair fall pinned at one end to said panel can be draped across said arcuate section to depend therefrom over said flat section.

2. A platform according to claim 1, in which said penetrable material of the panel is foamed polystyrene.

3. A platform according to claim 1, in which said support structure includes spaced, parallel end walls between which said panel and guide wall extend, and said base is constituted, at least in part, by bottom edges of said end walls.

4. A platform according to claim 3, in which said base is further constituted by a bottom wall extending between said bottom edges of the end walls.

5. A platform according to claim 3, in which said end walls extend laterally and upwardly beyond said panel and said guide wall.

6. A platform according to claim 5, in combination with a carrying case adapted to removably receive said platform and internally dimensioned, when closed, to be engaged by said end walls for preventing movement of said platform within the carrying case.

7. The combination according to claim 6, in which said carrying case includes a body and lid pivoted to each other so as to be separable upon opening of the case, at a plane perpendicular to said end walls.

8. A platform according to claim 5, in which said guide wall further includes a section backing said panel and having the latter secured thereto with said arcuate section of the guide wall integrally joining said fiat section and backing section, said guide wall has tabs extend ing from the opposite ends thereof, said end walls having slots to receive said tabs, and said tabs are secured to said end walls after extending through said slots.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,008,568 11/1961 Van Doren 206-8 3,310,162 3/1967 Bayer 206-8 JAMES B. MARBERT, Primary Examiner. 

